DIY Blanket Ladder

I bought these little hanging buckets from Michaels last year. I had this vision of them hanging on a ladder…not sure why…probably saw it on Pinterest 🙂 where 99% of my ridiculous ideas come from. I’ve wanted to update my blanket ladder, which was big and bulky, to something a little less so. When I started designing the ladder, I decided to go with a dowel style rung that I could hang the buckets on. Mission accomplished!

What I really like about this ladder is that I did 5 rungs so you can really store a lot of blankets on it if necessary. Plus, the actual construction is so simple! No hardware for attaching the rungs, just a drill bit and some wood glue.

Step 1:
Make your cuts.
Cut both 2x3x8 to 6 feet long.
Cut each wood dowel into 3 pieces, 16″ long
(I only used 5 rungs, however, there is enough room at the bottom of the ladder to add a 6th rung if you’d like to use all the pieces.)

Step 2:
Mark your “x” for each rung on both 2x3s.
First, use a measuring tape and pencil. Measuring lengthwise from the top of each 2×3, make a mark at 6″, 1’6″, 2’6″, 3’6″ and 4’6″. (If you want a 6th rung, make a mark at 5’6″ as well.)
I used my angle square for this, makes it easier but not completely necessary. At each mark for the rung, make a cross mark at the center of the board (1 1/4″ from the edge).

Step 3:
Use your drill fitted with the forstner drill bit to drill holes for each rung. Before drilling, place the point of the drill bit directly at the center of each marked “x”, push down on top of drill to seat the drill bit into the wood slightly so that it doesn’t move when you start drilling.

Step 4:
Drill each hole down so that the top of the drill bit is flush with the wood.

Step 5:
Once all the holes are drilled for the rungs you can attach all the rungs to 1 piece of 2×3.
Pour wood glue into each hole, enough to coat the bottom and up the sides but not so much that excess will come out the sides when the dowel is inserted.

Step 6:
Add a dowel to each hole, using a hammer to tap it in and down as far as it will go. May take a little force as it should be a very snug fit.

Step 7:
Add glue to each hole on the other 2×3

Step 8:
Turn the 2×3 with the attached rungs over on top of the second 2×3, line up the rungs with the holes and begin to tap them in.
This process will need a little give and take. The rungs may not line up perfectly and some may be slightly longer than others. Try starting at one end, tap the rung in just slightly, then go to the next and tap in slightly. Until you have each rung in the right spot and slightly in the hole. Then go back use more force to hammer the rungs in all the way.
I didn’t worry about the dents and marks made by the hammer, just added more distressing and character. However, if you don’t want those marks, try using a rubber mallet instead.

Step 9:
Allow the glue to dry for at least a few hours (I allow mine to dry for at least 24 hours) before sanding and staining or painting.
I used my corner cat sander with 200 grit sand paper to smooth out any imperfections in the wood.
After sanding, I wiped it down with a wet rag to remove saw dust then stained with one coat of Minwax Stain in Jacobean.